Route

What is Route?

This is a term used in football to describe the path a receiver
follows prior to receiving a pass. The path is drawn out for each
individual play. There are many different types of routes a
receiver can run, such as an in, out, hook, pick, deep, or crossing
route. Each of these denotes a general direction or pattern the
receiver will follow, but the specifics vary greatly between plays
and even more between teams. Some receivers are better at certain
types of routes because of their speed, height, or other
advantageous feature or athletic ability.

Sporting Charts explains Route

Another special type of route is a timed route. The "timed"
descriptor indicates that the quarterback is going to throw the
ball to a certain spot at a certain time. It is the responsibility
of the receiver to ensure they make it to their designated position
on time to catch the ball. When running a route, it is important
that a receiver communicate with the quarterback with hand signals
to ensure the QB and the receiver are on the same page. If a
receiver needs to change their route, or for example, they are open
and running down the field, they will throw their hand up to catch
the attention of the quarterback.